The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return

Two best mates. One final party. A moment that will change everything.

Following a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe run, Chalk Line (‘Blanket Ban’ (Southwark Playhouse Borough)) presents The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return.

An evening of noughties bangers and shots of shitty gin mixed with the chaos of violence. A night to remember!

Set in austerity-stricken Luton over one chaotic night, the play follows two best friends (Voice and Lewis) as they chase the highs of youth against a backdrop of systemic neglect. Painting a tapestry of violence and joy, it is a raw, real-time collision of friendship and survival. Told with biting wit and lyrical intensity, this production is a powerful exploration of class and identity, with a cracking house party that pulses round the corner.

A gripping new play that captures the raw, heart-pounding moment when everything changes—and childhood slips away.

Winner – Best New Writing – Fest & Skinny Magazine 2024

★★★★ “Brims with boisterousness” The Guardian

★★★★ “Exhilarating” WhatsOnStage

★★★★ “Anti-lyrical Under Milkwood” The Stage

★★★★★ Fest Magazine | ★★★★★ Spy in the Stalls | ★★★★★ Ovation News | ★★★★★ Adventures in Theatreland | ★★★★★ North West End

Supported by Royal Victoria Hall Foundation, Unity Theatre Trust, Peggy Ramsay Foundation and Arts Council England.

Access Performance

Captioned Performance Wednesday 24 September, 7.30pm

Post-Show Events

Tuesday 9 September – Q&A hosted by Tony Award Winning Writer David Edgar (The New Reel, Royal Shakespeare Company; Nicholas Nickleby, Aldwych Theatre) with Chalk Line Co-Artistic Directors and Cast.

Join the team behind The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return to discuss the making of this play, the themes of the show and its journey.

They will also answer questions on everything from personal connections to identity and class, the journey of working-class creatives in this industry, their favourite 00’s bangers, to rehearsals, dance moves, multi-rolling and more.

Wednesday 10 September – Post Show Party / Ben Kinsella Fundraiser

Chalk Line take over Southwark Playhouse Borough Bar with a curated evening featuring a DJ and live music by Crossword Lyric. Crossword Lyric is a music and poetry platform based in King’s Cross that aims to build confidence, connections and encourages unfinished work, to get rid of perfectionism in the arts. We do this through open mic nights, workshops and collaborative events.

There will be 5 performers on the night doing a mix of spoken word and song. Let your hair down, follow the party out of the show and into the bar, and join the full company in celebrations. The event will fundraise for the Ben Kinsella Trust supporting their national intervention work.

Tuesday 16 September – Political Playwriting Q&A: Using The Stage to Campaign

Join us for a post-show chat with Writer Sam Edmunds discussing his journey writing The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return and how the play transformed from page to stage. Sam will be joined by CEO of Ben Kinsella Trust, Patrick Green, and Olivier Award Winning Playwright, Waleed Akhtar.

Friday 26 September – Post-Show Talk with Paapa Essiedu and Ramzan Miah.

The cast of of The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return and producers Chalk Line Theatre will be joined by Emmy and Olivier nominated actor Paapa Essiedu (‘I May Destroy You’, ‘Death of England’) and Ramzan Miah (‘Barbie’, ‘Eternals’) for an evening of conversation surrounding an actors journey in theatre, discussing class, identity and community.